10 Movies That Pushed The Boundaries Of Visual Effects

Visual effects are as important – sometimes more important – than a movie’s plot, script or acting ability. If you disagree, I have two words for you: Pacific Rim. Visual effects development has accelerated enormously over the past 20 years, and we’re now at a point in filmmaking where seemingly nothing is impossible.

But the amazing visual effects we enjoy today wouldn’t exist without the trailblazers of yesteryear, those that pushed the boundaries of visual effects to bring something new to the movie industry.

Visual effects have long been associated with the sci-fi genre, but before (and indeed since) the peak of the sci-fi movie genre in the 1980s, they were used to tell stories and delight audiences in all manner of movies.

From skeleton warriors to dinosaurs and talking toys, there have been some truly monumental moments in filmmaking history: without which, many of our favourite films could have even been conceived, let alone attempted.

The way I see it, while both 2001 and Gravity were beautifully done and made fantastic use of the techniques and technology of their time, neither really pushed the standard forward. Gravity especially falls into this category. So while both could be on a list of “Most Striking Visual Effects” or something, I don’t have any issue with their absence here.

That said, I’m not at all a fan of Kubrik (I know, I know. I’m hopeless). And while I can appreciate the merits of a film like 2001, I have no real desire to delve into the technical innovations it may or may not have pioneered. So forgive me if it turns out that it actually did usher in a whole new era of visual effects like those on this list.